Project consultant provides drawings, budget projections

MERINO -- The Buffalo RE-4J Board of Education got an update on the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant they're pursuing for a new track, upgrades to the football field and a new parking lot.

Project drawings as well as budget projections have been received from the project consultant. The district hired Don Smith, a sports facility specialist with more than 30 years of experience who has built more than 700 athletic complexes, to survey the existing field and provide drawings of different options.

In regards to the track, Smith recommended the district pursue an eight-lane straight away, with a six-lane curve. However, Superintendent Robert Sanders said the cost of an eight-lane track would be prohibitive because they would have to move the football field, which would entail a substantial increase to the cost of the project.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $567,4000.

A new track would cost $415,400, but that could be reduced by $50,000 if the district chose a black latex finish versus a red polyurethane finish. Cost for the football field upgrades is $120,000 and a new parking lot will cost $32,000.

Sanders said they're going to ask for the maximum of $350,000 when they apply for the GOCO grant.

"We think we can get the final numbers down by people doing some in-kind work, as well as pursuing other revenue sources to help offset the remainder to get the project done," Sanders said.

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The district is hiring an outside grant writer to help with the grant.

They plan to start holding meetings soon with interested parties for their input. The meetings will be open to all in the community, as the project will be a community use facility.

In other business, the board approved Kaprice Franke as assistant junior high girls basketball coach and Brandyn Jones as assistant wrestling coach for the high school.

The board also discussed a policy, exhibit JF-E (2), regarding delegation of custodial power by parent/guardian. It came to their attention that a new exhibit would need to be attached to the JF policy, dealing with admission and denial of admission.

When families move their children with relatives, in particular grandparents, the district has to be able to contact the person or people that the child is living with and be able to legally discuss issues with them. This form gives the district a formal way to have the parents delegate custodial power to whomever the student is living with, if they're not living with the parents.

Currently, if parents don't delegate custody, the district cannot even speak to the grandparents regarding discipline or any other school issue that may arise. The district would have to contact the parent that is not living in the area.

This becomes a very important issue with injuries and illness.

Additionally, Sanders began initial discussions with the board on a holiday gift for employees.

The board was reminded that high school parent/teacher conferences will be on Monday, Oct. 29, and Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 5 to 8 p.m. and elementary conferences will be on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Nov. 1.

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